▪ I. distinct, ppl. a. (n.)
(dɪˈstɪŋkt)
Also 5 destinct, distynte, 5–6 dis-, dystynct, distincte, 6 -stynke, -stincke.
[ad. L. distinct-us, pa. pple. of distinguĕre or separate, divide, distinguish; cf. F. distinct, -te (13–14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
A. as pa. pple.
† 1. Distinguished, differentiated. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶754 (Ellesm.), In oother manere been distinct [v.rr. distynte, distinket] the speces of Glotonye after seint Gregorie. 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. i. Defin., That therby the whole figures may the better bee iudged, and distincte in sonder. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 536 For no place Is yet distinct by name. |
† 2. Separated into parts, divided. Obs.
| 1434 Misyn Mending of Life, Þis boke is of mendynge of lyfe..destinct in-to xij chapiters. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 1 This treatyse..is distincte and diuyded in to thre bokes. |
¶ See also B. 4.
B. adj.
1. Distinguished as not being the same; separate, several, individual, not identical; = different 2. Const. from.
| 1382 [implied in distinctly 1]. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 149 That yche of these thyngys..To a dystynct persone appropryat be. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 42 Twoo severall and distynct companyes..that is to say, both the Barbours and the Surgeons. 1665 Hooke Microgr. 166 A large Feather..contains neer a million of distinct parts. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants II. 329 Tamus. Flowers m[ale] and f[emale] on distinct plants. 1838 Thirlwall Greece IV. xxxii. 276 [The indictment] charged him with three distinct offences. 1885 F. Temple Relat. Relig. & Sc. ii. 38 Absolute as distinct from relative knowledge. |
b. Separate or apart so as to be capable of being distinguished, or as being different; not confounded with each other, or with something else.
| a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. viii. §35 The intention was, that the two armies, which marched out together, should always be distinct. 1733 Pope Ess. Man iii. 229 The worker from the work distinct was known. 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art II. 699 If the first mark be erroneous, a second may be drawn at the distance of a hair's breadth from it, and still be a distinct line. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. II. xlii. 113 Keeping the two systems [of common law and equity] distinct. |
c. Nat. Hist., Pathol., etc. = discrete a. 1 c.
Said of markings or parts which are perceptibly separated from each other, as distinct spots, distinct furrows, distinct antennæ, or from the contiguous parts, as distinct scutellum, distinct thorax, distinct tail, etc.
| 1789 A. Crawford in Med. Commun. II. 325 The smallpox..was of the distinct kind. 1810 R. Thomas Pract. Physic (ed. 3) 167 [Smallpox] is distinguished into the distinct and confluent..in the former the eruptions are perfectly separate from each other. |
2. Distinguished or separated from others by nature or qualities; possessing differentiating characteristics; individually peculiar; different in quality or kind; not alike. Const. from.
| 1523 Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII, c. 3 Every warden..shal limitte distincte and seueral markes to euery of the said worstede weauers. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. x. §1 A distinct kind of law from that which hath been already declared. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 72 These two Lords..as they were of a very contrary humour, so had they..a very distinct death. a 1698 Temple Ess., Const. & Int. Empire Wks. 1731 I. 93 Flanders cannot be considered distinct from Spain in the Government. 1836 J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. vi. (1852) 167 Holiness..is quite distinct from vindictiveness. 1845 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 1 Such history is a distinct species of composition, having its own principles. |
3. Clearly perceptible or discernible by the senses or the mind; clear, plain, definite: a. to the senses.
| 1382–98 [implied in distinctly 2]. 1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 64/2 The voyce was neyther loude nor distincke. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 812 To see from thence distinct Each thing on Earth. 1784 Cowper Task iv. 162 The clear voice, symphonious yet distinct. 1813 Scott Trierm. iii. Introd. ii, Distinct the shaggy mountains lie, Distinct the rocks, distinct the sky. 1827 Keble Chr. Y. 9th Sund. after Trin., God's chariot-wheels have left distinctest trace. 1856 Sir B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. I. ii. 35 The transparency of the atmosphere renders distant objects unusually distinct. |
b. to the mind or thought.
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. v. 245 That I may giue the locall wound a name, And make distinct the very breach, where⁓out Hector's great spirit flew. 1668 Howe Bless. Righteous (1825) 72 This somewhat distincter account of it. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 208 ¶11 When common words were..less distinct in their signification. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. xix. 328 The distinct expression of thoughts and convictions which had long been entertained. 1891 Law Times Rep. LXIII. 690/2 The defendant..had given distinct orders to Nunney never to lock anyone up. |
c. In mod. use: That is clearly such; unmistakable, decided, pronounced, positive. (Cf. distinctly 2 b.)
| 1828 Macaulay Ess., Hallam's C.H. (1854) 87/2 An act, not only of private treachery, but of distinct military desertion. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xviii. 229 Who..would have a claim to a distinct preference at the next vacancy of the throne. 1873 Black Pr. Thule vi. 91 A most distinct dislike to Gaelic songs. 1887 Punch 19 Mar. 137/2 He is a distinct loss to the stage. 1892 W. Minto in Bookman Nov. 57/1 His volume is a distinct enrichment of our literature. |
d. Transferred to the mental impression or faculty by which something is perceived.
| 1654 Z. Coke Logick (1657) 5 The distinct knowledge of God is paramount the reach of the understanding..God..is conceivable only..by himself. 1697 Locke Let. to Stillingfl. in Bourne Life (1876) II. xiv. 426 If your lordship has any better and distincter idea of substance than mine is. 1833 N. Arnott Physics (ed. 5) II. i. 225 The point of distinct vision is distinguishable from the retina around by being more transparent. 1892 W. B. Scott Autobiog. I. 3 The distincter memory of middle life. |
† e. Capable of making clear distinctions; discerning, discriminating: = distinctive a. 2. Obs.
| 1614 Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 128 A distinct and curious head shall finde an hard taske, to define in what point the goodnes thereof consisteth. 1756–82 J. Warton Ess. Pope (1782) I. iii. 120 Men of dry distinct heads, cool imaginations, and keen application. |
4. Marked in a manner so as to be distinguished; decorated, adorned. (A Latinism, chiefly poetic, and somewhat participial in use.)
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. iii. 23 The place..was dight With divers flowres distinct with rare delight. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 846 From the fourfold-visag'd Foure, Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels, Distinct alike with multitude of eyes. 1715–20 Pope Iliad xiii. 768 The handle..Distinct with studs. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam i. lv, A throne..Distinct with circling steps which rested on Their own deep fire. 1830 Tennyson Arab. Nts. 90 Dark-blue the deep sphere overhead, Distinct with vivid stars inlaid. |
† 5. = distinguished 4. Obs. rare.
| 1756 W. Toldervy Two Orphans III. 85 An application made..to a person of distinction..and the reception that they met with from the said distinct person. |
† C. n. A separate or individual person or thing. Obs. rare.
| 1601 Shakes. Phœnix & Turtle 27 Two distincts, division none: Number there in love was slain. |
▪ II. † diˈstinct, v. Obs.
Also 4 destincti, 5 distinke, 5–6 dystynke.
[a. OF. di-, destincter, -tinter to distinguish (Godef.), f. distinct distinct a.]
= distinguish (in various senses); in pa. pple. sometimes = distinct a.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 11590 A prest þat ys no clergye ynne, How can he weyl dystyncte þy synne? 1340 Ayenb. 152 To destincti be-tuene þe guode þinges and þe kueade. c 1386 Distinket [see distinct ppl. a. A. 1]. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6199 Ther can no wight distincte it so That he dare sey a word therto. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 247 The consideracyon wherfore the foresayd hours be so distincted or diuyded in to vij tymes. 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 A iv b, It is an impertynent thynge to this worke to dystynke these thynges. 1546 Gardiner Declar. Joye 40 b, By distinctinge gods knowledge from his election. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 68 Be the churches, congregations, and assemblies there distincted into particulars. Ibid. 109. |
Hence diˈstincted ppl. a., diˈstincting vbl. n.
| 1570 Dee Math. Pref. in Rudd's Euclide (1651) B iv b, The discretion, discerning, and distincting of things. Ibid., Our Severalling, distincting, and numbring, createth nothing. 1575 T. Rogers Sec. Coming Christ 47/1 Nor yet their earnefull plaintes abroade distincted voyces send. |